Protimeter Grainmaster i Manuale utente
INS3000, Rev. B
June 2014
PROTIMETER
Amphenol
Advanced Sensors
Grainmaster i®
Protimeter Grain Moisture Meter
Instruction Manual
Table of Contents
iii
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1. Product Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.1 Display and Buttons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Crop Calibrations and Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2. Measuring Moisture and Temperature of Ground and Compressed Samples . . . . . . . . . . . 2
2.1 Adjusting the Pre-Programmed Calibrations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3. Optional External Moisture and Temperature Probes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
3.1 Using the Optional Moisture and Temperature Probe No. GRN3005. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
3.2 Using the Optional Temperature Probe (Part No. GRN6046) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
3.3 Using the Optional Bale Probes (Part Nos. GRN6138 and GRN6138-S). . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4. Setup Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
5. Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
5.1 Grinder-Compressor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
6. Calibration Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
7. Information Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
8. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Protimeter Grainmaster Page 1
Introduction
The Protimeter Grainmaster i (integrated) is a versatile moisture meter for measuring
moisture and temperature levels in crops. It is used with a grinder compressor unit to
measure small samples of grain during harvesting and drying. Also, it can be used with
optional probes for monitoring the temperature and moisture levels of stored grain and the
moisture levels of baled hay and straw.
1 Product Features
The Grainmaster i is a hand-held instrument powered by one 6F22R 9V battery located in
a compartment on its underside. It incorporates a grain cell with retaining lugs for the
grinder-compressor unit, a liquid crystal display (LCD) and four buttons for selecting the
operational modes and taking measurements. There is a socket on the left-hand side of the
instrument for optional probes (see section 3 for details). The instrument is supplied with
the following auxiliary items (see photo):
•Grinder-Compressor Unit
•Grain Cup
•Sample Spoon (10 ml)
•Cleaning Brush
•Quick Check
•Pouch
•Instructions
1.1 Display and Buttons
The button is pressed to switch the instrument ON and to take moisture measurement
readings. The instrument has two primary modes of operation, selected by pressing the
button. In internal measurement mode, the instrument is used in combination with the
grinder compressor unit to measure a small sample of grain in the grain cell. The and
buttons are then used to select the required crop calibration and to switch from moisture to
temperature displays. The instrument is used in external measurement mode when using
optional moisture/temperature probes.
Page 2 Protimeter Grainmaster
1.2 Crop Calibrations and Functions
Sixteen calibrations are pre-programmed into the Grainmaster i (see in Table 1 below):
Note: Not all calibrations are for Ground samples. Also, some of the pre-programmed
calibrations are not available with the optional external Moisture and Temperature
Probe (see Section 3.1.)
Before measuring moisture and temperature of ground and compressed samples, as
detailed in Section 2 below, do the following:
1. Enter the Setup Mode from the switched OFF state by pressing while switching ON
using .
2. Switch temperature display from °C to °F.
3. Switch automatic temperature correction (ATC) ON or OFF. However, Protimeter
recommends that ATC is always activated when measure moisture levels in crops.
When ATC is OFF, the °C to °F icon, as applicable, is flashed as a warning while
moisture measurements are displayed.
2 Measuring Moisture and Temperature of Ground and Compressed
Samples
To take moisture and temperature measurements of 10 ml samples of crops, complete the
following steps:
1. Ensure that no external probe is connected. Switch ON in internal measurement mode
by pressing and releasing . If it is in the correct mode, the display will show H2O in
the top left-hand corner, three horizontal lines and the previously selected crop. If the
display shows BALEPROBE or PROBE (instrument is in external measurement mode)
or if a number is displayed, press to switch to internal measurement mode and to
cancel the reading.
2. Scroll to the required crop calibration (or 0-100 relative scale) by pressing or .
3. Be sure the grain cell of the instrument is clean. If it is dirty, clean it with the brush.
4. Place the grain cup (the matt aluminium ring) over the grain cell.
Table 1: Pre-Programmed Calibrations of Grains
Wheat Canola Coffee Rice
Oats Linseed Soya (soybean) Sorghum
OSR (oilseed rape) Sunflower Beans Paddy
Barley Corn (maize) Peas 0-100 relative
Protimeter Grainmaster Page 3
5. Ensure that the grinder-compressor unit is clean and is operating smoothly. If not,
disassemble and clean as detailed in section 5.1.
6. Prior to placing the grinder-compressor unit on the instrument, ensure that the plunger
is fully retracted within its housing. The plunger is retracted fully by sliding the switch
on the underside of the rotating handle forward into the compress position (picture)
and rotating handle anti-clockwise until the clutch clicks a few times. The sliding
switch can only be pushed or pulled into position when the black pips on the top of the
rotating handle are aligned with the yellow X.
7. Pull the switch on the underside of the
rotating handle to the grind position and
place the grinder-compressor unit over
the grain cup. Lock the unit in place by
twisting it clockwise against the three
lugs.
8. Always use the correct sample size of 10
ml. Using the 10 ml spoon provided, pour
a sample into the hopper on the side of
the grinder-compressor unit.
9. Hold the Grainmaster i against a flat and horizontal surface and rotate the handle
clockwise to grind the sample and push it through into the grain cup. If necessary,
check to see the entire sample has passed through the grinder blade by turning the
handle anti-clockwise a quarter turn and looking into the hopper.
10. Align the pips and the yellow X of the rotating handle and push the sliding switch
forward into the compress position. Turn the handle clockwise to screw the plunger
onto the ground sample that is now in the grain cup. Correct compression is reached
when the clutch clicks a few times.
11. Press and hold to display the moisture content of the sample. When the reading has
stabilized, release to freeze the%H2O value for approximately 7 seconds. Note
and record this value as required.
12. If necessary, display the temperature of the sample by pressing the or only after
releasing . Note and record this value as required.
13. Having noted the moisture (and/or temperature) reading, turn the handle anti-
clockwise until the clutch clicks (to fully retract the plunger!). Remove the grain cup
and the tested sample and clean the grain cell with the brush prior to commencing
another test.
Page 4 Protimeter Grainmaster
2.1 Adjusting the Pre-Programmed Calibrations
If required, each of the 15 pre-programmed crop calibrations (i.e. all except the 0-100
scale) can be adjusted individually by ±1.5% to allow for subtle changes that can be caused
by crop variety, growing conditions or geographical region. Pragmatic users may choose to
adjust their meter to match the results obtained from a local instrument used commercially.
Note: Whenever a user adjustment is active, the ! symbol flashes in the bottom right corner
of the display.
To adjust calibrations, complete the following steps:
1. Select required crop and measure the moisture content of a sample as outlined in
section 2.0.
2. While holding the button to display the%H2O value, press to increase the
calibration or to decrease the calibration in increments of 0.1. An ! flashes in the
bottom right corner of the display to indicate that a calibration has been adjusted by the
user.
3. Remove a calibration adjustment by pressing while pressing . The ! will
disappear from the bottom right corner of the display.
Note: The adjustments are separate for each crop and are stored in the instrument’s non –
volatile memory until cleared in step 3 above or in Section 4 (Setup Mode). No
adjustment is provided for temperature readings.
3 Optional External Moisture and Temperature Probes
A range of external moisture and temperature probes are available for use with the
Grainmaster i. The external probes connect to the instrument via the edge connector
socket on the left-hand side of the instrument, this is protected by a blanking grommet
when not in use.
Protimeter Grainmaster Page 5
3.1 Using the Optional Moisture and Temperature Probe No. GRN3005
Nine calibrations for the external Moisture and Temperature probe are pre-programmed
into the Grainmaster i as shown Table 2 below:
Note: The optional probe can be used with the Grainmaster i for checking the moisture
and temperature levels of stored grain. This probe is used to monitor the condition of
stored grain quickly; it is not a substitute for moisture measurements taken from
ground samples as detailed in section 2.0. Ground sample measurements are more
reliable than moisture probe measurements.
Note: Be sure that the instrument’s internal grain cell should be empty while using the
external moisture probe. Avoid contact with the centre pad of the cell while using the
grainprobe.
Use the optional external moisture and temperature probe as follows:
1. Remove the protective cap from the tip of the Moisture and Temperature Probe.
2. Push the probe into the grain and, initially, allow a few minutes for temperature to
stabilize. Connect the probe to the instrument as described above.
3. Press and release to switch ON, confirm that the instrument senses external
moisture probe flagged by display showing ‘PROBE’ – if not, press once to do so.
4. As with the internal grain cell, if the crop shown is not the required one, then press
or to select it; note that some crops are not available with the external moisture
probe.
5. Press and hold to display either the temperature or moisture level. Release and
press or to switch from moisture to temperature displays as required. will toggle
back to the internal grain cell.
Note: The user adjustments may be made in the same manner as for the internal grain cell,
these are stored separately from the later.
The spiral wound electrodes (that make the moisture measurement) should be wiped clean
with a cloth at regular intervals to prevent the accumulation of dust that may attract
moisture and give an erroneous reading. A temperature sensor is mounted in the tip of the
probe. This is easily damaged if the probe tip is rammed against hard surfaces. Always
replace the protective cap when the Moisture and Temperature Probe is not in use.
Table 2: Optional Moisture and Temperature Probe Calibrations
Wheat Canola Oats
OSR (oilseed rape) Beans Barley
Linseed Peas 0-100 relative
Indice
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